HootRated mascot HootRated

Little Elliot Books in Order

Little Elliot is a 3-book series by Mike Curato for ages 5–8, at a grades 1–2 reading level, with gentle content (HootRated intensity 1/5).

Books
3
By publication date
Reading level
Grades 1–2
Average grade level 1.9
Recommended ages
Ages 5–8
From HootRated age ratings
Content intensity
Gentle
HootRated 1/5

Little Elliot Reading Order

Series numbers aren't available for most Little Elliot books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).

# Title Reading Level Ages Content
1 Little Elliot, big family
2015
Level 1-2 5-8 Gentle
2 Little Elliot, fall friends
2017
Level 2-3 5-8 Gentle
3 Merry Christmas, little Elliot
2018
Level 1-2 5-8 Gentle

Content Intensity Across the Series

Consistent

Content stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.

1
2
3
First book Latest book

Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Little Elliot (3 books by Mike Curato) lands at a grades 1–2 reading level, with average content intensity 1/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.

The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.

Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.

Questions about the Little Elliot series

What reading level is the Little Elliot series?
Little Elliot books are at a grades 1–2 reading level (average grade level 1.9), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 5–8. There are 3 books in the series.
What order should I read the Little Elliot books?
Series numbers aren't available for most Little Elliot books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: Little Elliot, big family (2015); Little Elliot, fall friends (2017); Merry Christmas, little Elliot (2018).
What age is the Little Elliot series appropriate for?
HootRated recommends Little Elliot for ages 5–8. Content is gentle (HootRated intensity 1/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.